The Buffalo Bandits won the 2023 National Lacrosse League Cup on Saturday. In a best of three final, the Bandits defeated the Colorado Mammoth two games to one. In the third game of the series on Saturday, the Bandits beat the Mammoth 13-4.
The 19 Canadians on the Bandits are forwards Tehoka Nanticoke of Six Nations, Ontario, Dhane Smith and Chris Cloutier of Kitchener, Ontario, Brad McCulley of Victoria, British Columbia, Sam La Roue of South Surrey, British Columbia, Josh Byrne of New Westminster, British Columbia, Kyle Buchanan of Nepean, Ontario, and Chase Fraser of Vancouver, British Columbia, transition players Ian MacKay of Port Elgin, Ontario, Nick Weiss of Port Hope, Ontario, defensemen Adam Bomberry of Six Nations, Justin Martin of Oakville, Ontario, Steve Priolo of St. Catharines, Ontario, Matt Spanger of Toronto, Ontario, Ethan O’Connor of Milton, Ontario, Justin Robinson of Pickering, Ontario, and Bryce Sweeting of Peterborough, Ontario, and goaltenders Devlin Shanahan of Mississauga, Ontario, and Matt Vinc of St. Catharines.
Byrne led the Bandits in the regular season with 43 goals. Smith led the Bandits in the regular season with 96 assists and 132 points. In the playoffs, Smith, Byrne and Nanticoke led the Bandits with 15 goals. Smith led the Bandits in the postseason with 34 assists and 49 points. In game three of the NLL Cup on Sunday, Byrne led the Bandits with four goals, while Smith led the Bandits with seven assists and nine points.
The 2022-23 NLL Awards have also been announced. Calgary Roughnecks goaltender Christian Del Bianco of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia was named the most valuable player and goaltender of the year, Toronto Rock defenseman Latrell Harris of St. Catharines was named the defensive player of the year, Calgary Roughnecks transition player Zach Currier of Peterborough was named the transition player of the year, Panther City forward Jonathan Donville of Oakville, Ontario was named the rookie of the year, and Roughnecks coach Curt Malwasky of Coquitlam, British Columbia was named the coach of the year.
